Urinary catheter

Abstract

A urinary catheter including an elongated tube formed of a flexible material. A proximal end of the tube includes an opening placing an exterior of the elongated tube in fluid communication with an interior fluid passage of the elongated tube, where the proximal end defines an inlet end of the elongated tube. A distal end of the tube is formed by the flexible material, and a socket is located within the distal end of the flexible material and defines a fluid outlet for the elongated tube. A valve having a fluid passage therethrough is connected to the socket and includes a movable closure member displaceable to control fluid flow from the elongated tube. The valve is removable from the socket to permit a flushing syringe to be connected in engagement with the socket.

1 . A urinary catheter comprising: 
 an elongated tube formed of a flexible material;    a proximal end of said tube formed by the flexible material and including an opening placing an exterior of said elongated tube in fluid communication with an interior fluid passage of said elongated tube, said proximal end defining an inlet end of said elongated tube;    a distal end of said tube formed by said flexible material;    a socket located within said distal end of said flexible material and defining a fluid outlet for said elongated tube; and    a valve having a fluid passage therethrough and connected to said socket, said valve including a closure member displaceable to control fluid flow from said elongated tube.    
   
   
       2 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein said socket includes an interior surface and said valve includes a valve extension defining an exterior surface cooperating with said interior surface of said socket.  
   
   
       3 . The urinary catheter of  claim 2  wherein said interior surface of said socket includes a portion defining a first radially extending locking structure, and said exterior surface of said valve extension defines a second radially extending locking structure cooperating with said first locking structure.  
   
   
       4 . The urinary catheter of  claim 3  wherein said first and second locking structures comprise cooperating thread members defined on said socket and said exterior surface of said valve extension.  
   
   
       5 . The urinary catheter of  claim 3  wherein said first and second locking structures comprise cooperating detents and grooves.  
   
   
       6 . The urinary catheter of  claim 2  wherein said socket includes a proximal end and a distal end, and said valve extension extends past said proximal end into engagement with said flexible material to define a fluid seal.  
   
   
       7 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein said distal end of said tube extends beyond said socket, and said valve includes a radially extending flange portion cooperating with said distal end of said tube to define a fluid seal.  
   
   
       8 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein said elongated tube comprises a secondary passage to define a double lumen catheter, and a valve port located adjacent said distal end defined by said flexible material and in fluid communication with said secondary passage, and said proximal end of said tube including an expandable balloon element formed in said flexible material and in fluid communication with said secondary passage.  
   
   
       9 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein a sealing surface of a first member of said valve for cooperating with a second member of said valve for controlling fluid flow comprises an outer surface of said valve to facilitate wiping of the area of the sealing surface.  
   
   
       10 . The urinary catheter of  claim 9  wherein said second member is supported internally of and in spaced relation to said first member during fluid flow, and at least a portion of said second member extends outwardly from said first member to facilitate wiping said second member when said valve is closed.  
   
   
       11 . The urinary catheter of  claim 1  wherein said valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve body and a generally cylindrical, movable closure member attached to said valve body, said movable closure member including a central aperture defining a valve outlet and said valve body including a central protrusion for engaging within said central aperture to define a closure for said valve, said closure member longitudinally displaceable between open and closed positions on said valve body to control fluid flow from said elongated tube.  
   
   
       12 . The urinary catheter of  claim 11  wherein said movable closure member is movable in linear movement relative to said valve body.  
   
   
       13 . The urinary catheter of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said movable closure member and said valve body include a thread element to guide said movable closure member in longitudinal movement in response to rotation of said closure member.  
   
   
       14 . The urinary catheter of  claim 2  wherein said socket includes a first tapered surface engaging said extension of said valve, and a second tapered surface adjacent said first tapered surface defining a diameter smaller than a diameter defined by said first tapered surface.  
   
   
       15 . A urinary catheter comprising: 
 an elongated tube formed of a flexible material;    a proximal end of said tube formed by the flexible material and including an opening placing an exterior of said elongated tube in fluid communication with an interior fluid passage of said elongated tube, said proximal end defining an inlet end of said elongated tube;    a distal end of said tube formed by said flexible material;    a secondary passage extending parallel to said fluid passage;    an actuated element in fluid communication with said secondary passage;    a socket located within said distal end of said flexible material and defining a relatively rigid fluid outlet for said elongated tube.    
   
   
       16 . The urinary catheter of  claim 15  wherein said socket comprises an interior surface and a first locking structure extending radially from a portion of said interior surface.  
   
   
       17 . The urinary catheter of  claim 16  wherein said first locking structure extends radially outwardly from said interior surface, and said interior surface defines a substantially smooth surface.  
   
   
       18 . The urinary catheter of  claim 16  including a valve having a fluid passage therethrough, and having an exterior surface and a second locking structure extending radially from said exterior surface and cooperating with said first locking structure.  
   
   
       19 . The urinary catheter of  claim 15  including a valve having a fluid passage therethrough and including a tapered extension engaged with a first tapered surface of said socket.  
   
   
       20 . The urinary catheter of  claim 19  including a second tapered surface defined in said socket adjacent said first tapered surface, said second tapered surface separated from said first tapered surface by a step.  
   
   
       21 . The urinary catheter of  claim 15  wherein said socket comprises an exterior surface in engagement with said flexible material, said exterior surface including grooves interengaged with said flexible material.  
   
   
       22 . The urinary catheter of  claim 15  including a valve port in fluid communication with said secondary passage and located adjacent said distal end of said elongated tube, and said actuated element comprising a balloon located at said proximal end in fluid communication with said valve port.  
   
   
       23 . The urinary catheter of  claim 15  including a valve detachably attached to said socket and having a fluid passage therethrough, said valve including a valve body and a movable closure member attached to said valve body and displaceable between open and closed positions to control fluid flow from said elongated tube.  
   
   
       24 . The urinary catheter of  claim 15  including a valve detachably attached to said socket for controlling fluid flow through said catheter, and including a sealing bead adjacent an outer surface of said socket for engaging a surface of said valve in sealing engagement.